Only three weeks to go until we start filming ThisAbility—and it’s full speed ahead!
Since my last update, my biggest focus has been on finding a d/Deaf leading actress for the role of Abongile. I searched far and wide across South Africa: through DeafNET, the National Institute for the Deaf, De La Bat, Wits University, my audiologists in Port Elizabeth and Tygerberg Hospital, Carel du Toit Centre in Cape Town, the Pelsrus Community in Jeffrey’s Bay, my friend Magdél in Worcester, my former co-actor Jason Farao (Kinders van Stilte), the Global Leadership Academy drama department, and even the local Hearing Aid Centre.
While I received a few audition tapes, the role requires exceptional control of body language and facial expression. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a d/Deaf actress with the experience needed to carry the lead.
In the end, I turned to AFDA Port Elizabeth, and I’m thrilled to announce our cast:
- 🎭 Xabiswa Ndodana (my Honours classmate last year) will star as Abongile
- 🎭 Fiks Mahola (7de Laan, Generations) will play the male lead, Mandla
- 🎭 Vicki Fourie – I’ll take on the role of the antagonist and taxi boss, Patricia
We recently held our first crew meeting in Jeffrey’s Bay with RED Creative Collab (Rieg, Eidie & Richard), alongside Thomas Reynecke, our Production Designer. That meeting sparked some script changes, and I’m now on the seventh draft (and counting!) of ThisAbility.
Soon after, the crew and I went on a location scout—and we struck gold! We secured the perfect taxi rank setting and found a warehouse that fits our vision perfectly.
I also met with Mishka from Kouga Municipality to discuss extras for the taxi scenes and the security we’ll need on set. Today, I connected with the Humansdorp Taxi Association, with the possibility of hiring their quantum taxis for three to five days of shooting.
Tomorrow marks our first rehearsal at AFDA with the actors and our acting/casting coach, Gemma Barnard. We’re also excited to welcome Lara Ekron, AFDA’s head of makeup, who has officially joined the team to design the look and feel of our characters.
Amid all of this, I’ve also been applying for various grants, attended FAME Week in Cape Town, submitted my application to pursue a Master’s at NMU next year, amongst many other applications.
The journey has been intense, but every challenge and milestone brings us closer to making ThisAbility a reality. Thank you to everyone walking alongside me in this process—your support keeps the fire burning.
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These past few weeks, I have applied for the following:
🎓 Princeton Arts Fellowship: Applied as an emerging filmmaker and writer, developing disability-centered stories and teaching inclusive, interdisciplinary storytelling.
✍️ Hodder Fellowship at Princeton: Applied as an emerging filmmaker and writer, developing disability-centered stories through film, television, and creative nonfiction.
🎬 MIP Africa at Fame Week 2025: Applied through the Eastern Cape Development Corporation as an emerging filmmaker, developing authentic Eastern Cape stories for film and television.
📻 Jacaranda FM Her Perfect Pitch: Submitted Sacambaya Films as a purpose-driven production company, creating disability-centered stories, amplifying marginalized voices, and building inclusive, community-rooted filmmaking in South Africa.
🌍 Global Health Film Grant: Applied as an emerging filmmaker, developing a documentary exploring disability, accessibility, and mental health, amplifying unheard voices and creating socially impactful storytelling.
🎓 Nelson Mandela University: Applied for a Master’s in Scriptwriting, aiming to develop original film and television projects that explore human experiences, amplify marginalized voices, and advance inclusive, socially conscious storytelling.
🎓 Canon Collins Bursary: Applied as an emerging filmmaker, pursuing a Master’s in Scriptwriting at Nelson Mandela University, developing inclusive storytelling projects that amplify underrepresented voices, explore disability and accessibility, and foster social impact through film and writing.
🎬 BASA Supporting Grant: Applied as an emerging filmmaker, developing the pilot short film Read My Lips (Lees My Lippe), exploring Deaf storytelling, lipreading as a superpower, and inclusive communication, in collaboration with RED Creative Collab, amplifying underrepresented voices and fostering social impact through innovative, accessible cinematic storytelling.
The following have come through:
🎤 ATKV Pacaltsdorp: Invited to speak at “Sign Language as a Heritage Language” in October, aiming to raise awareness, inspire students, and celebrate sign language as a heritage and inclusive communication tool, in collaboration with local high schools and Bra Eddie, a musician specializing in Sign Language.
🎬 MIP Africa at Fame Week 2025: Selected through the Eastern Cape Development Corporation as an emerging filmmaker, developing authentic Eastern Cape stories for film and television. I wrote about my experience in a blog here.
🌸 StrongHer International Award 2025: My mom was selected as a Top 5 finalist by the Kouga Municipality, honouring her impact in ministry, mentorship, and community transformation.
🎨 J-Back ARTi Competition 2025: My mother selected as a Top 50 Finalist (Adults category), and then the TOP 25, with her painting Entering The Harbour of Restoration, a visual portrayal of life in Jeffrey’s Bay. From here, the Top 25 and Top 15 will be announced, with the final exhibition at Wavepoint Hub on 27 September 2025.
🍿 Africa’s Voices of Change Film Festival: Invited as a guest speaker, sharing insights on inclusive storytelling and disability representation in film. Hoping to attend in person through sponsorship or a travel grant.
🌟 EmpowerAfriq Women’s Business Awards 2025: Nominated by Elmare Hendricks, representing the Eastern Cape in the Social Impact & Community Champion category, recognized in the TOP 25 for driving community upliftment and impact. Read more here.
💡 ThisAbility ECDC Micro Film Funding Grant: Pre-approved! Waiting for the final outcomes in two weeks. Excited to bring my short film to life in Jeffrey’s Bay with this support.
